Car-step.



PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

E. HOWE. I

CAR STEP.

'APPLIOATION FILED AUG. 8. 1904,

'2 SHEETS- HIET 1.

dazhw wi/lmwm No. 791,910. PATENTED JUNE 6, 1905.

B. HOWE.

GAR STEP.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 8. 1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEBT 2.

IIIIIIIIIIIIIIII liliii liiii mwwto'c Eafqafjfaw'e v I I I a arrwm,

UNITED STATES Patented June 1.905.

EDGAR HOIVE, OF EVERETT, WVASHINGTON.

CAR-STEP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 791,910, dated June 6,1905.

Application filed August 8, 1904. Serial No. 219,958.

To all whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDGAR HOWE, a citizen of the United States, residingat Everett, in the county of Snohomish and State of Washington, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Car-Steps; and I docleclare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of theinvention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

This invention relates to improvements in supplemental steps for cars.

The object of the invention is to provide, in conjunction with theordinary stationary steps of the car, one or more additional steps whichare normally folded up out of the way against said stationary steps orwhich may be quickly and easily lowered for use when desired.

A further object is to provide supplemental steps for railwaypassenger-cars which will be simple in construction, easily operated toraise or lower the same, and which in their raised or folded positionwill be entirely out of the way of and will not interfere with the useof the stationary steps-of said cars, means being provided whereby saidsupplemental steps will be locked together when in their loweredposition. With these and other objects in view the invention consists ofcertain novel features of construction, combination, and arrangement ofparts, as will be hereinafter more fully described, and pointed out inthe appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of a partof one end of a railway passenger-car, showing the application of thesupplemental steps, the same being shown in full lines in their loweredposition and in dotted lines. in their folded position. Fig. 2 is acentral vertical sectional View of the stationary steps, showing thesupplemental steps in folded position. Fig. 3 is a similar view showingthe steps in their lower or unfolded position; and Fig. 4 is a verticaltransverse sectional view through the upper supplemental step and itssupporting-links for the same, showing the means whereby said steps arelocked together when in lowered position.

Referring more particularly to the drawings, 1 denotes the platform ofthe car, which is provided with the usual permanent or stationary steps2. To the side pieces of the permanent steps 2, near the upper end ofthe same, are pivotally connected the inner ends of rails or bars 3,which are adapted to be swung inwardly and outwardly on said sides andwhich may be held in their outward position by means of pins at. Saidpins 4 are adapted to be removably inserted through alined apertures insaid bar and the sides of said stationary steps. To the lower ends ofthe side of said stationary steps are pivotally connected, as by bolts5, the upper ends of angularly-bent arms 6, upon the outer portions ofwhich are secured the ends of the tread portion of the uppersupplemental step 7. To

the lower side of the outer portion of the arms 6 are secureddownwardly-projecting bracket-arms 8, to the lower ends of which arepivotally connected the lower ends of rods or bars 9, the upper ends ofwhich are pivotally connected to the outer ends of the bars or rails 3,thereby supporting the upper supplemental step. The rods or bars 9 arepreferably formed in three sections or links suitably hinged or pivoted,as shown.

To the pivot-bolts 5 are pivotally connected the upper ends of rods orbars 10, to the outer ends of which are connected the upper ends ofzigzag or step-shaped bars 12, to the lower portions of which aresecured the lower supplemental step 13. The upper portions of the bars12 are adapted to rest on the brackets 8 when said lower supplementalstep is in its lowered and unfolded position, thereby supporting saidstep through the medium of the bars or rods 9. On the outer ends of thelower portion of the bars 12 are secured lat erally-projectingcylindrical pins or studs 14, which when said lower step is foldedupwardly are adapted to engage angle iron guide-plates 15. Said platesare secured to the inner side pieces of the stationary steps, said lowersupplemental step being thereby guided and directed in its upwardmovement to a position where the same will rest upon the upperstationary step 2. The upper ends of the zigzag bars 12 are providedwith stoplugs 16, with which are adapted to be engaged the lower ends ofthe bars 10, thereby limitare in folded or raised position, and to beswung outwardly and downwardly from said ing the downward or unfoldedposition of the l stationary steps when in an unfolded position,

lower supplemental step.

In order to prevent the casual movement of the steps 7 and 13, a lockingmechanism is provided, whereby said steps may be connected together whenin open position. When thus locked or connected together, neither of thesupplemental steps can be raised without raising the other also. Saidlocking mechanism consists of spring-catches 17,which are mounted on theunder side of each inner corner of the upper supplemental step and areadapted to project through the supportingbars 6 for said step and toengage apertures in the supporting-bars 12 of the lower supplementalstep, thereby locking said bars 6 and 12 together. To the inner ends ofthe spring-catches 17 are secured the outer ends of rods or wires 18, tothe inner ends of which are secured operating-handles 19. Said handleswhen grasped and forced together will withdraw or retract thespring-catches 17 out of engagement with the arms 12, thereby releasingthe lower step 13 and permitting the same to be swung up to a folded orraised position. The construction of the catches 17 is such that theywill automatically engage the arms 12 of the lower step when the same isswung downwardly. In each of the supplemental steps, midway between theends of the same and near the inner edges thereof, are formed hand-holes20, by which the steps may be grasped when it is desired to pull thesame downwardly to an unfolded position.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with theaccompanying drawings, the construction and operation of the inventionwill be readily understood without requiring a more extendedexplanation.

Various changes in the form, proportion, and the minor details ofconstruction may be resorted to without departing from the principle orsacrificing any of the advantages of this invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is*

1. The combination with the stationary steps of a car-platform, of apair of supplemental steps, each independently pivotally connected tosaid stationary steps, said. supplemental steps being adapted to engageand rest on said stationary steps when the former pivotedsupporting-rails, sectional foldable supporting-bars arranged to supportsaid supplemental steps when in a lowered position, and means to locksaid supplemental steps together when in a lowered position, so thatneither can be raised without also raising the other.

2. The combination with the stationary steps of a car-platform, of apair of supplemental steps, each independently pivotally connected tosaid stationary steps, said supplemental steps being adapted to engageand rest on said stationary steps when the former are in folded orraised position and to be swung outwardly and downwardly from saidstationary steps when in an unfolded position, pivoted supporting-railsand sectional foldable supporting-bars arranged to support saidsupplemental steps when in a lowered position, and means for lockingsaid supplemental steps together when in a lowered position, saidlocking means having releasing devices whereby said supplemental stepsmay be disconnected from each other.

3. The combination with the stationary steps of a car-platform, of apair of supplemental steps independently pivotally connected to saidstationary steps, said supplemental steps being adapted to engage andrest on said stationary steps when the former are in folded or raisedposition, and to be swung outwardly and downwardly from said stationarysteps when in an unfolded position, pivoted supporting-rails andsectional foldable supporting-bars arranged to support said supplemental steps when in a lowered position, springcatches arranged on saidupper supplemental steps and adapted to automatically engage thesupporting-bars of said lower supplemental steps, whereby saidsupplemental steps are locked together when in their lowered position,and means whereby said catches may be I00 simultaneously released topermit said supplemental steps to be disengaged from each other andswung up, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twosubscribing wit- 5 nesses.

EDGAR HOWE. IVitnesses:

G. P. SPRIESTERSBACH, C. J. WITT.

